What is the difference between Dementia and Alzheimers?

Dementia *– is a name for a wide range of symptoms including a decline in memory, changes in thinking skills, poor judgment and reasoning skills, decreased focus and attention and changes in language and communication skills. It can be caused by various diseases, one of them being Alzheimers.

Alzheimers *– is the most well know type of dementia. It causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is thought to be a build up of beta amyloid proteins that stick together causing plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain which lead to a disruption between cells. Alzheimers cannot truly be diagnosed until an autopsy has been performed on the brain. Presently the best diagnosis can be done with imaging of the brain and samples of cerebrospinal fluid looking for the presence of biomarkers- a buildup of plaques and tangles in the brain. Alzheimer’s is known as type 3 diabetes for its strong links to insulin resistance and decreased ability to use glucose. 

Why is eating a Ketogenic, Low Carb, High Fat Diet Beneficial for People with Dementia and Alzheimers

The brain can use two types of fuel, glucose and ketones (fat), in order to operate. Alzheimers is otherwise know as the 3rd type of diabetes due to the increased resistance of the brain cells to use glucose. No matter how high the blood glucose is, the brain cannot use it for fuel. This leads to slow brain activity, brain cell shrinkage and even death of those cells. It is virtually starving to death. When the brain can no longer use glucose an alternative fuel that can be used is ketones. Ketones are able to provide the nourishment the brain is lacking. 

Another benefit with Low carb, High fat, Ketogenic diet is it’s ability to clear beta amyloid protein from the brain. In people with Alzheimers disease beta amyloid protein is known to build up and stick together in the brain developing plaques and neurofibrillary tangles which then cause a disruption in the communication between cells*. This results in inflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to more amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. It is possible that one of the causes of all of these plaques and tangles is initially when the brain slowly loses the ability to metabolize glucose it leads to inflammation and oxidative stress. The inflammation and oxidative stress results in the plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Recent research has shown that as blood sugar levels rise so does the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. (study HERE)

Does supplementing with Ketones improve symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s?

Studies involving mice showed strong findings that when fed a low carb, high fat diet there was lower levels of beta amyloid plaques in the brain and that a ketogenic diet may be able to reverse the plaque that has already accumulated in Alzheimer’s patients. These studies have also shown that ketones were found to reverse the damage that was caused by the beta amyloid plaques. They protected the brain from developing more plaque and protected cells from further damage by existing plaque. 

Another human study in humans called KDRAFT (Ketogenic Diet Retention and Feasibility Trial) is the first study in the world to test ketogenic diets in people with Alzheimers disease. This study showed that 9 out of 10 participants with mild clinical dementia (CDR 0.5 and 1) and Alzheimers disease improved significantly on the Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale when the diet was followed. These improvements diminished approximately 1 month after the diet was stopped. In comparison medication for Alzheimers such as Aricept only improve scores minimally. Patients with a dementia CDR 2 did not show improvement since all 4 participants in the study withdrew stating it was due to caregiver burden. 

Another study involving six humans participants showed intake of MCT oil increased serum ketone bodies and improved memory, while intake of placebo did not show improvement in any of the cognitive measures tested. Their study was based on consumption of 56 g/day of MCTs for 24 weeks.

And yet another study supplementing a ketogenic agent to 152 subjects resulted in significant differences in Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale compared to the Placebo. Scores were noted as significantly improved from days 45-90.